After work beer and manage to get the first pint out of a new barrel of Leigh on Sea Brewery Best Bitter. Nice and fresh.

NRL Grand Final. Wow! Greatest of all time?

Rovers dominated the first half. Second half's beer is Annafest Bier from Brauerei Rittmayer. Not had it before, but very nice

Second Super League semi final on the TV between Hull Kingston Rovers and St Helens accompanied by an Ayinger Festmarzen.

Terrible performance by Millwall tonight. Aimless and utterly profligate in front of goal. Reverting to last season's negative approach to attack while no longer having the defensive strength. A lot of the new signings seem powderpuff. No wonder the stands were half empty

On the road with @brentwoodtownfc.bsky.social. My first ever trip to @dulwichhamletfc.bsky.social. Good crowd. Like the atmosphere and values. Will have a 1 minute silence for Billy Vigar.

When Mrs Taff has had very good news she likes to give fruit as gifts to the various Buddhas in the house. This time it was to the elephant Buddha (or Ganesh as he is known to his friends). The gifts will stay for 9 days as she goes through a prayer cycle

We have a mixed religion household. Mrs Taff's Buddha happily exists on a shelf next to the Good Beer Guide and a CAMRA beer mat

First derby for @brentwoodtownfc.bsky.social in 9 years against Billericay Town today. Ended Blues 3 Cabbage Patch Kids 0. Really good performance. Feel great tonight

The NRL finals are one of the best times of the year. The first one between the Storm and Bulldogs did not disappoint. Sensational if brutal match

Also went to The Ship and Shovel. This is a pub in two separate buildings across an alley from each other. Quite unique. Badger beers. Tied a nettle ale, which was a lot tastier than it sounds

Visited a new Czech beer bar by Charing Cross station called The Stranded (owned by the people behind Euston and Waterloo Taps). Number of different Budvar beers. Unusually big head for British tastes but the dark tasted really good. The barroom was really nice too. Shame it wasn't busier

For the 7th game in a row @brentwoodtownfc.bsky.social conceded the first goal and for the 7th time in a row they came from behind to beat Carshalton Athletic 3-2. Still top of the table. It's never boring

Had a picnic in Weald Park today. Excited to see 7 signets on the main pond all in a row together with proud parents

@brentwoodtownfc.bsky.social 2 Burgess Hill Town 1. Thought Burgess Hill were the best team we have played so far, but again played the full 90 and dominated the second half to come from behind again. Could have won by more in the end. New merch available. Got a cap.

Not often one gets to say had a great day in and around Romford. Started with an entertaining round of crazy golf with Mrs Taff at Moby Golf in Chadwell Heath. Was only one stroke between us at the end on a very inventive course. Then a trip to a favourite shop, oriental supermarket Hoo Hing.

@brentwoodtownfc.bsky.social won 4-3 at Potters Bar Town. Two catastrophic defensive mistakes saw them 2-0 down after 10 minutes but they had the firepower and as usual kept going until the end. Good to see Danny Ogunleye back on the scoresheet

Away game at Potters Bar today. Here in plenty of time so gone in the Cask & Stillage, a GBG ranked pub. Enjoyed Vocation Lo-Fi and Timothy Taylor Boltmaker

Today's bounty from the allotment

Only recently realised that G Love and Special Sauce were still going. Having a very chilled afternoon listening to them

Tough going in the heat in the office today. Visit to The Peasants Revolt micropub and a pint of Kernel Summer Pale much needed

First home game in the Isthmian Premier for @brentwoodtownfc.bsky.social. First win: 3-2 over St Albans City. An open game, but we remain a 90 minute team with another late winner. Terrific performance. Terrific atmosphere

First win for Millwall at Norwich City since 1968 to start their season. 2 goals so hopefully a bit more prolific this season

At the first league game of the season for @brentwoodtownfc.bsky.social away at Aveley. Excited to see how we might do with the step up a league

Had an outcall in South Woodham Ferres this afternoon so took the chance to visit the brewery tap of the wonderful Crouch Vale Brewery, Tap 19. Had an Amarillo and Blackwater Mild. Fair to say that the beer quality was unsurprisingly excellent. Worth the visit

Off to an open mic in Brentwood, but as usual stopped for a couple of pints at the Peasants Revolt Micropub. Two pumps from Colchester Brewery on: Number One and Freak Show. Both excellent

With all the hate out there at the moment what a pleasure it was to go with Magic of Thailand festival in Cambridge today with Mrs Taff. Great to see people of all ethnicities from kiddies to pensioners dancing in the rain to the ladyboy show. Most folk want fun not hate

Last friendly done and dusted. @brentwoodtownfc.bsky.social 2 Tilbury 0. Pretty tepid stuff. Roll on the league opener next Friday at the arse end of South Ockendon

Second stop: Pretty Decent Brewing Co. Enjoying Anchor of the Year

Trying to do the Blackhorse Beer Mile again. Starting at Exale with Counter Kolscher

Walthamstow 1 @brentwoodtownfc.bsky.social 2. Bit of a scratchy game, but a nice day out

In Walthamstow for @brentwoodtownfc.bsky.social preseason friendly. Stopped again at the excellent Ye Olde Rose and Crown for a liquid lunch and crisps: Bristol Beer Factory Valley of Eden northern style bitter and Hobsons The Champion mild

I think banger is beginning to replace quaff as my most despised word. Heard a DJ use it after virtually every song played this morning

Always like stopping off at The Viper in the middle of the woods at Mill Green if I am on that side of Chelmsford. Normally go for Mighty Oak Oscar Wilde Mild, but this time tried Milestone Newark Castle, a brown Ale. Very nice it was too

Road trip out of town to an open mic at The Cock in Ongar. Steamy but as a bonus they have Mauldons Silver Adder on

Off to an open mic but having a couple of beers at the Peasants Revolt first. Chose Brew York Duality. Apparently it is a series of twin hopped beers. Not sure which one this is but it's bloody marvellous

First preseason game for @brentwoodtownfc.bsky.social against Leyton Orient. Lost 5-0, but I am told Leyton put out a strong team so to be expected

Last stop: Windsor Castle. Lots of ducking under tiny doorways. Back on Landlord

Fourth stop: Churchill Arms. Not just one of the best pubs in London but one of the best in the whole country. Fuller's Sticky Wicket and some gorgeous Thai food to look forward to

Third stop: Blue Stoop. Apparently Allsopp's first pub in 90 years. And for all fans of the 70s they have Double Diamond

Second stop: Mall Tavern. Blues on the Jukebox and funky vibe. A lot of craft beer taps. Unfortunately 2 of the 3 cask pumps ran out as we were ordering

On a pub crawl of Notting Hill Gate with a mate to celebrate his birthday. First Stop: The Champion on Wellington Tier. Nice looking pub although the vibe and music is a bit young for us oldies. Nice pint of Landlord

First potatoes of the Year dug up

The first courgette of the year went into a green curry prepared by Mrs Taff

Scorching at the allotment. Cucumbers coming on nicely. First courgette ready to pick

2 great gigs this week. First GA-20 at the Jazz Cafe and then tonight JD McPherson at The Garage

Challenge Cup Final second half pint: Fuller's Honey Dew

Challenge Cup first half pint: Adnams Ease Up IPA

Off to an open mic this evening but time for a couple of pints beforehand at the Peasants Revolt Micropub: Brentwood Lumberjack ESB and Five Points Pale

Had planned to go into Brightlingsea for the afternoon but the road was blocked by an accident. Decided to make the best of it and headed instead for the excellent Chelmsford Brewing Co. Enjoyed a Hoptopia Pale Ale and Crossroads Red IPA